Convertible oil feed plug and visible oil level and reservoir kit



May 4, 1965 G. F. M KENNEY 3,181,362

CONVERTIBLE OIL FEED PLUG AND VISIBLE OIL LEVEL AND RESERVOIR KITFiled'Oct. 25. 1961 INVENTOR. GEORGE E MC/(ENNEY A fro/war United StatesPatent 3 181 362 CGNVERTBLE (BIL i EED PLUG AND VISTELE Gill, LEVEL ANDREEERVQIR KIT George F. Mcldenney, Turner Road, Auburn, Maine Filed Get.25, 1961, Ser. No. 147,693 1 Claim. (Cl. 73-303) This invention relatesto a novel convertible oil feed plug usable with .a visible oil leveland reservoir kit for use with usual four-cycle. gasoline engines.

The usual four-cycle gasoline driven motor which supplies power for homelawn mowers, snow blowers, or the like depends for its lubrication upona separate oil receptacle to which oil may be added through an openingusually closed by a plug. The plug may or may not have a dip stickattached depending upon the depth of the oil receptacle. Among the usualoperators of such motors are found to be housewives and teenagers whoare oftentimes not sufficiently aware of the needs of the four-cyclemotors to be alerted to check the oil receptacles of such motors to makecertain that there is sufiicient oil for proper operation without damageto the part.

According to the present invention a convertible oil feed plug isprovided with a visible oil level and reservoir kit which is adapted tobe attached to existing four-cycle gasoline motors and provide a visiblewarning as to when oil must be added to such engines. The kit alsoserves to provide a reservoir to additional oil for the lubrication ofsuch motors.

Although such novel features as are believed to be characteristic of theinvention and are pointed out in the claim, the invention and the mannerin which it may be carried out, may be further understood by referenceto the description following and the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a motor driven lawn mower showing aconvertible oil feed plug and visible oil level and reservoir kitattached.

FIGURE 2 is a front elevation of a convertible oil feed plug and visibleoil level and reservoir kit of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a detail of a convertible plug of the present invention.

FIGURE 4 is a cross section View of a convertible plug of the presentinvention in a shallow oil receptacle fourcycle motor.

FIGURE 5 is a cross section view of a convertible plug of the presentinvention in a deep oil receptacle of a four-cycle motor.

Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like referencenumbers denote like parts in the various figures.

In FIG. 1 a visible oil level and reservoir kit 1 and convertible plug 2of the present invention is shown attached to a four-cycle motor poweredlawn mower. The visible oil level and reservoir kit 1 comprises aconvertible plug 2, an oil line 3, a transparent or translucentreservoir container 4, a clamp 5 adapted to attach the container 4 to anappropriate point on a motorized device where it can be seen. As shownin FIG. 2 a stilt tube 6 for use in deep base oil reservoir four-cyclegasoline motors extends from the convertible plug 2.

The convertible plug 2 is provided with a hollow length 7 which opensinto an enlarged exterior 8 shown in FIG- URES 3, 4 and 5 defining aconical shape. The enlarged exterior 3 has an inset 9 communicating withit which is part of the hollow length 7. The inset 9 is adapted to holdthe stiff tube 6. The inset 9 ends at a wall 1% which communicates witha further inset 11 which is part of the hollow length 7. The inset 11 isadapted to receive the oil line 3.

The convertible plug 2 is generally of a standard size since most oilreservoir plugs for four-cycle motors for ice lawn mowers and the likeare of the same diameter. stilt tube 6 is cut off at an angle forming anib 12.

The visible oil level and reservoir kit I may come provided with the oilline 3 attached in the inset ll of the convertible plug 2 by beingcemented or otherwise attached with the end of the oil line 3terminating at the removable cap 13 of the container 4 or the kit may beprovided with the individual parts unattached to the convertible plug 2.

In operation in a shallow reservoir four-cycle gasoline motor theoriginal plug of the four-cycle motor is replaced by the convertibleplug 2, the container 4 is attached to an appropriate point where .anoperator of the four-cycle engine might see the container 4. The clamp 5holds the container 4 in its selected location. The clamp 5 is providedwith a first gripping area 14 adapted to hold the clamp 5 with container4 where the clamp 5 is afiixed. The clamp 5 is provided with a secondresilient gripping area 15 adapted to removably hold the container 4 tofacilitate installation and filling of the container 4. When the oilline 3 is not already attached, once a location for the container andclamp 5 has been selected the oil line 3 may then be extended from thecontainer 4 to the convertible plug 2 in the oil reservoir of thefour-cycle motor, excess length of the oil line 3 may then be cut offand the oil line 3 is inserted and/ or cemented in the inset 11.

A shoulder 16, formed by the junction of the enlarged exterior 8 andbottom of the convertible plug 2, when fully inserted in the opening ofa shallow oil receptacle of a four-cycle gasoline motor is submerged inthe lubricant oil of the motor. The container 4 is filled with oil andthe cap 13 with the attached oil line 3 closed. The container 4 isengaged in the second gripping area 15 of the clamp 5 in invertedposition allowing the oil level to be visible and the reservoir tofunction.

When the oil level of the four-cycle gasoline motor drops below thelevel of the shoulder 16, oil seeps into the motor oil receptacle fromthe container maintaining lubrication in the motor. The enlargedexterior 8 of the hollow length 7 acts to assist the oil flow andprevents the viscosity of the oil from holding back seepage into the oilreceptacle of the motor because of the small opening of the hollowlength 7. The enlarged exterior 8 also facilitates air passing into theoil line 3 to the container 4 allowing the oil to seep.

A plastic known by the trademark Derlin has been found effective as oneof the substances the convertible plug 2 may be constructed of. Thecontainer 4 may be provided with markings such as full and empty aswarnings as to when oil in the motor receptacle or in the container 4-ought to be added. The container 4 may be provided with a secondreplaceable opening to allow for its filling without removal of the cap13. The cap 13 and oil lines 3 may be unitary when another closure ofthe container is provided.

Where a convertible plug 2 and visible oil level and reservoir kit 1 ofthe present invention is used in conjunction with a deep oil reservoirof a four-cycle gasoline motor as shown in FIGURES 5, the tube 6 must bedimensioned to be open at the point where oil must be added to the oillevel in order to provide proper protection to the motor. The tube 6must be fitted so that the upper end of the nib 12 is just at the upperlowest point of the proper oil level. The tube 6 may be cut off at theend opposite the nib 12 or a new nib 12 cut into the tube 6 to adjustthe proper length extending from inset 9. The tube may be cemented or ifa good grip is had in the inset 9 the tube may be just inserted firmly.

In operation as the oil level in the deep reservoir of the four-cyclegasoline motor drops below the add point, air is permitted to seep intothe tube 6 allowing oil to seep from the container 4 maintaining the oillevel. The angu- The lation of the nib 112 permits the seepage whereas afiat end of the tube 6 might not permit such How.

The terms and expressions which are employed are used as terms ofdescription, it is recognized, though, that various modifications arepossible within the scope of the invention claimed.

What is claimed is:

A kit for providing a visible oil level and reservoir for a four-cyclegasoline motor including a container through which oil may be viewed,means adapted to clamp said container to a selected element remote fromsaid motor, an oil line, said oil line connected to said container, aconvertible oil feed plug adapted to fit the oil inlet opening of afour-cycle gasoline motor, including means adapted to receive said oilline, a length within said plug adapted to deliver oil to a shallowreceptacle; said length opening into the apex of a cone within saidplug, and a removable delivery tube adapted to deliver oil to a deeperreceptacle and adapted to be removably held by said length and extendingthrough the enlarged exterior.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,814 2/01Edwards 184-52 1,477,145 12/23 Marone. 1,644,378 10/27 Hirschler.2,175,881 10/39 Davis 184-84 2,624,200 1/53 Sparlin 73323 3,095,009 6/63Conley 1161l8 3,103,816 9/63 Kawecki 73-232 ISAAC LISANN, PrimaryExaminer.

